Pigeon man charged with possession of Canadian geese without permit

Published 3:07 pm, Friday, April 22, 2016

BAD AXE— A 21-year-old Pigeon man facing a misdemeanor charge of possessing two young Canadian geese without a permit appeared in Huron County District Court on Thursday.

The Huron County Prosecutor’s Office charged Charles J. Mihacsi with one count of illegally possessing geese, a charge that carries a possible penalty of up to 90 days in jail and a fine, if convicted.

On Thursday, when both sides appeared in district court, the matter was adjourned until September while terms of a possible settlement agreement between the prosecutor’s office and Mihacsi’s attorney, James Woodworth, can be reached. The settlement is likely to include a condition that Mihacsi take a DNR course on animal husbandry. In return, the charge against him will be dismissed.

Department of Natural Resources Officer Robert Hobkirk handled the matter. Police reports indicate Hobkirk received a complaint on June 25 regarding Mihacsi possessing the Canadian geese at his Connors Road property near Pigeon.

Hobkirk followed up on the complaint and arrived at Mihacsi’s property the same day to find two young geese in a pen made of chicken wire with no cover.

Hobkirk reports he instructed Mihacsi’s girlfriend to release the geese from the pen, and then Hobkirk stated he chased them from the yard.

The girlfriend reportedly told Hobkirk she didn’t realize they had done anything wrong since the pen was not covered and they both believed the geese could have left at anytime.

Reports from Hobkirk allege Mihacsi had been caring for the geese for about a week.

Woodworth said Thursday: “My client rescued and was caring for the goslings he believed were abandoned by their mother.”

Hobkirk wrote in his police report submitted to the prosecutor’s office: “Having had contact with Mihacsi in the past and knowing that he is an avid hunter, especially waterfowl, I am certain that he knew that possessing wild geese was unlawful.”